Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, has said he rejected an invitation to attend the National Opposition Summit held in Ibadan, describing the gathering as an attempt by established political figures to rebrand themselves.
Opposition leaders from various parties had converged on Ibadan on Saturday, where they resolved to work towards presenting a unified presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. The coalition includes the African Democratic Congress, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, and the New Nigeria People’s Party.
Reacting via a post on his X account, Sowore said he deliberately stayed away from the summit, insisting that Nigerians deserve a credible alternative rather than what he termed “recycled failure.”
He argued that many of the political actors involved in the coalition had previously held positions of power and contributed to the country’s current challenges, including corruption and poor governance.
“There is no need to pretend that the same individuals who presided over years of stagnation and systemic decay can suddenly present themselves as champions of progress,” he said.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, maintained that the AAC would not be part of what he described as a political arrangement aimed at repackaging old leadership under a new banner.
He reiterated that his party remains committed to building a people-driven political movement anchored on transparency, accountability, and genuine reform.
According to him, Nigeria’s political future depends on a clear departure from existing structures, rather than a coalition of familiar figures seeking to regain influence.
Sowore added that the AAC would continue to mobilise citizens nationwide to support what he described as a transformative vision, rejecting both the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition groups he accused of opportunism.
